Spine elements for use with albums

Abstract

Spine elements for use with albums are described. An example album includes a first spine element and a second spine element that is substantially similar to the first spine element. The first spine element is adjacent and removably coupled to the second spine element to form an album spine. Additionally, the first spine element and the second spine element each include a binding gap positioned toward the interior of the album to receive and couple an edge of at least one album sheet to the respective spine element.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An album, comprising,
 a first spine element; 
 a second spine element that is substantially similar to the first spine element, the first spine element to be removably coupled to the second spine element by positioning a peg of the first spine element into a recess of the second spine element and rotating the first spine element about an end relative to the second spine element to form an album spine, wherein the first spine element and the second spine element each include a binding gap positioned toward an interior of the album to receive and couple an edge of at least one album sheet to the respective spine element. 
 
     
     
       2. The album as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the album further comprises a third spine element and a fourth spine element. 
     
     
       3. The album as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first spine element and the second spine element are substantially shaped as at least one of a slat or a rod having a substantially rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
       4. The album as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of the first spine element and the second spine element is provided with a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface and wherein the first lateral surface of the first spine element is to be adjacent the second lateral surface of the second spine element. 
     
     
       5. The album as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the album spine comprises a substantially closed back wall. 
     
     
       6. The album as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of the first spine element and the second spine element comprises a plastic material. 
     
     
       7. The album as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the album sheets are at least one of a substantially flat material, a paper material, a carton material, a cardboard material, a plastic material, a transparent material having a pocket to receive a substantially flat material object, a wallpaper material, or a carpet material. 
     
     
       8. The album as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the edge of the album sheet is coupled within the binding gap of the first spine element or the second spine element by at least one of form fitting, force fitting, or material-to-material fitting. 
     
     
       9. The album as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of the first spine element and the second spine element includes protrusions positioned transverse to the binding gap and wherein the protrusions correspond to holes arranged along the edge of the album sheet. 
     
     
       10. The album as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of the first spine element and the second spine element defines at least one cutout to receive a fastener to couple the album sheet to the respective spine element, wherein the at least one cutout is positioned transverse to the binding gap. 
     
     
       11. The album as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the fastener is provided with a latch arm that radially projects outside of the binding gap, wherein the latch arm is pivotable about an axis between a latched position and an unlatched position. 
     
     
       12. A spine element to be removably coupled to an adjacent spine element for use with albums, comprising,
 a binding gap positioned toward the interior of the album to receive and couple an edge of at least one album sheet to the spine element; 
 a latching mechanism comprising:
 a plurality of lateral wall sections; 
 a first slot, wherein at least one of the plurality of lateral wall sections is to be partially positioned within a second slot defined by an adjacent spine element in a substantially spring like manner in the transverse direction; 
 a first latching device; 
 a second latching device, wherein the first latching device is to intermesh a third latching device of the adjacent spine element in a form-fit in the longitudinal direction; 
 a positioning peg formed on a first lateral surface; 
 a first elongated recess defined by a second lateral surface, wherein the positioning peg is to be at least partially positioned within a second elongated recess of the adjacent spine element; 
 a biasing element on the first lateral surface opposite the positioning peg; and 
 a first step on the second lateral surface opposite the elongated recess, wherein the biasing element is to removably engage a second step of the adjacent spine element. 
 
 
     
     
       13. An album comprising:
 a first spine element; 
 a second spine element that is substantially similar to the first spine element, wherein the first spine element is adjacent and removably coupled to the second spine element to form an album spine, wherein the first spine element and the second spine element each include a binding gap positioned toward an interior of the album to receive and couple an edge of at least one album sheet to the respective spine element, wherein each of the first spine element and the second spine element defines at least one cutout to receive a fastener to couple the album sheet to the respective spine element, wherein the at least one cutout is positioned transverse to the binding gap, wherein the fastener is provided with a latch arm that radially projects outside of the binding gap, wherein the latch arm is pivotable about an axis between a latched position and an unlatched position, wherein the latch arm defines a groove that corresponds to a rib of the first spine element and the second spine element to substantially maintain the position of the fastener relative to the respective spine element. 
 
     
     
       14. The album as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the album is provided with at least one cover element having a spine section, wherein the spine section is removably coupled to at least one of the first spine element or the second spine element. 
     
     
       15. The claim as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of the first spine element and the second spine element comprises a first slat and a second slat, wherein the first slat and the second slat are removably couplable to each other and wherein the first slat and the second slat each define a portion of the binding gap. 
     
     
       16. The album as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fasteners to removably couple the first spine element to at least one of the second spine element or a cover element. 
     
     
       17. The claim as defined in  claim 15 , wherein protrusions are formed on the first slat positioned transverse to the binding gap and wherein the protrusions correspond to holes arranged along the edge of the album sheet and wherein the protrusions correspond to cutouts of the second slat. 
     
     
       18. The claim as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the second slat is provided with at least one guide tongue and at least one latching tongue, wherein the at least one guide tongue corresponds to at least one guide opening of the first slat. 
     
     
       19. The album as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a cover element is provided with a spine section having a latching mechanism half that is associated with at least one of a first latching mechanism half or a second latching mechanism half of at least one of the first spine element or the second spine element. 
     
     
       20. The album as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the cover element comprises a relatively rigid section and an articulation. 
     
     
       21. The album as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an indicator on at least one of the first spine element or the second spine element, wherein the indicator is positioned adjacent an outside surface of at least one of the first spine element or the second spine element. 
     
     
       22. The album as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of the first spine element and the second spine element is provided with projections to position the first spine element and the second spine element within a file container. 
     
     
       23. An album comprising:
 a first spine element; 
 a second spine element that is substantially similar to the first spine element, wherein the first spine element is adjacent and removably coupled to the second spine element to form an album spine, wherein the first spine element and the second spine element each include a binding gap positioned toward an interior of the album to receive and couple an edge of at least one album sheet to the respective spine element; and 
 a plurality of fasteners to removably couple the first spine element to at least one of the second spine element or a cover element, wherein each of first spine element and the second spine element defines a plurality of passage holes and a plurality of threaded holes both of which are positioned transverse to the binding gap, wherein the plurality of passage holes of the first spine element are to align with the plurality of threaded holes of the second spine element. 
 
     
     
       24. The album as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of the first spine element and the second spine element is provided with a latching mechanism that comprises a plurality of lateral wall sections, wherein at least one of the plurality of lateral wall sections is to be partially positioned within a slot defined by the adjacent spine element in a substantially spring like manner in the transverse direction, and wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a first latching device and a second latching device that intermesh in a form-fit in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
       25. An album comprising:
 a first spine element; 
 a second spine element that is substantially similar to the first spine element, wherein the first spine element is adjacent and removably coupled to the second spine element to form an album spine, wherein the first spine element and the second spine element each include a binding gap positioned toward an interior of the album to receive and couple an edge of at least one album sheet to the respective spine element, 
 wherein each of the first spine element and the second spine element is provided with a latching mechanism that comprises a plurality of lateral wall sections, wherein at least one of the plurality of lateral wall sections is to be partially positioned within a slot defined by the adjacent spine element in a substantially spring like manner in the transverse direction, and wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a first latching device and a second latching device that intermesh in a form-fit in the longitudinal direction, wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a positioning peg formed on a first lateral surface of the first spine element that corresponds to an elongated recess defined by a second lateral surface of the second spine element. 
 
     
     
       26. The album as defined in  claim 25 , wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a biasing element on the first lateral surface of the first spine element opposite the positioning peg and a step on the second lateral surface of the second spine element opposite the elongated recess, wherein the biasing element is to removably engage the step. 
     
     
       27. The album as defined in  claim 26 , wherein the first latching device and the second latching device intermesh in a direction of rotation and wherein the first spine element and the second spine element longitudinally shift relative to one another to intermesh the first latching device and the second latching device. 
     
     
       28. The claim as defined in  claim 27 , wherein the first spine element and the second spine element longitudinally shift against a force exerted by the biasing element. 
     
     
       29. The claim as defined in  claim 28 , wherein the biasing element includes a protrusion that extends beyond the respective spine element to pivot and disengage the biasing element from the step. 
     
     
       30. The claim as defined in  claim 29 , wherein the protrusion is externally accessible and recessed to an interior of the album relative to an outer edge of a plurality of cover elements.